Use of oxandrolone in the treatment of burns and other wounds

ABSTRACT

The subject invention provides a method of treating burn-induced weight loss in a burn patient which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an oxandrolone to the patient. The invention also provides a method of treating a wound in a patient suffering from a wound which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an oxandrolone to the patient. The subject invention further provides a method of treating burn-induced weight loss in a burn patient which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an oxandrolone in conjunction with a protein supplement to the patient.

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/011,377, filed Oct. 22, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,828,313, issued Dec. 7, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/985,734, filed Dec. 5, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,576,659, issued Jun. 10, 2003 which claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/032,414, filed on Dec. 5, 1996, the contents of which are hereby incorporated into this application by reference.

Throughout this specification, various publications are referenced by Arabic numerals within parentheses. Full citations for these references may be found at the end of the specification immediately preceding the claims. The disclosure of these publications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this specification in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Burns

Over one million people are involved in burn accidents in the United States each year. Approximately 150,000 of these patients are hospitalized and over 6000 of these die each year (1).

Following thermal injury, severe protein and fat wasting occurs (1). Loss of as much as 20% of body protein may occur in the first two weeks following major burn injury (2). Increased oxygen consumption, metabolic rate, urinary nitrogen excretion, fat breakdown and steady erosion of body mass are all directly related to burn size and return to normal as the burn wound heals or is covered (1). The metabolic rate in patients with burns covering more than 40% of total body surface is twice as high as the metabolic rate in people without burns (1).

Although the danger associated with acute burn-induced weight loss, especially lean body mass has well been defined, the impact of this process on patient outcome continues to be severely underestimated. The focus of management of critical illness post-burn remains that of cardiopulmonary support and infection control while stress induced catabolism may proceed unchecked leading to a rapid loss of lean tissue (fat-free), mainly muscle which is followed by protein loss in diaphragm, heart, then liver, kidney and splanchnic bed. The loss of visceral proteins may actually begin very early after injury and the muscle protein is used to replace organ losses. It is clear that the response to severe injury or post-surgical infection will become auto-destructive if not contained. Complications will occur including multiple organ dysfunction, the leading cause of death in the post-burn period. A loss of lean body mass exceeding 40% of total is usually fatal. This muscle loss corresponds to a comparable loss of total body protein which affects all organ functions.

Although major advances in surgical nutrition have also been made, attempt at controlling the protein loss often come too little and too late to prevent the catabolism induced complications. The degree of lean tissue loss corresponds very precisely with not only profound weakness, including chest wall and diaphragm impairment, but also decreased immune function, leading to infection, usually pneumonia.

Both lymphocyte and neutrophil immune defenses are impaired. Loss of myocardial muscle leads to decreased contractility. Wound healing becomes markedly impaired and an open wound soon becomes an infected wound. Cell metabolic abnormalities occur including decreased cell energy charge and impaired calcium kinetics.

Despite this well defined concept, a routine assessment of body weight and body protein loss and an aggressive attempt at preventing early protein depletion by controlling the host response to injury and optimizing anabolism is not performed.

The current therapy of burn injury, namely high protein nutrition and early wound closure attenuates the process but patients with large burns enter the recovery phase with a significant deficit in muscle mass. Since the peak rate of restoration of muscle mass, using endogenous stimuli alone, including good nutrition approximates 1 to 1.5 pounds a week, restoration of lean body mass usually requires months.

Use of the anabolic agent, human growth hormone, can increase anabolic activity in the burns, but high expense and complications such as hyperglycemia have prevented widespread use of this agent (3). This agent also has to be administered by injection.

Since the rate of recovery of lean body mass dictates disability time, an increased rate would be of tremendous functional and economic value in burn patients.

The subject invention provides therapies that increase the rate of recovery of lean body mass, thereby reducing the length of stay in a hospital and reducing rehabilitation time. Moreover, the subject invention provides therapies that increase the rate of wound healing. This is of great importance in burn-patients, especially in those patients that receive skin grafts. This is also important in burn-patients which have wounds at donor sites.

Oxandrolone

Oxandrolone (17-methyl-17-hydroxy-2-oxa-5-androstan-3-one) is a known compound which is commercially available. The preparation of oxandrolone is described, inter alia, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,283. Oxandrolone is an anabolic steroid synthetically derived from testosterone. Oxandrolone has a unique chemical structure compared with other testosterone analogs. Oxandrolone contains an oxygen rather than a carbon atom at the 2-position within the phenanthrene nucleus (4) and lacks a 4-ene function in the A-ring. The anabolic activity of oxandrolone is approximately 6 times greater than its androgenic activity and has been found to be 6.3 times greater than that of methyltestosterone (4).

Anabolic activity refers to the ability to cause nitrogen retention, promoting weight gain and increasing muscle strength. Androgenic activity refers to the ability to enhance male characteristics (i.e. secondary sex characteristics such as facial hairs and voice changes). Because of the high ratio of anabolic to androgenic activity, oxandrolone is less likely to cause adverse cosmetic consequences in women than many testosterone analogs.

Furthermore, in contrast to the majority of oral androgenic anabolic steroids (e.g. micronized testosterone, methyltestosterone, fluoxymesterone), oxandrolone undergoes relatively little hepatic metabolism (5, 6).

Oxandrolone has been administered to malnourished patients with alcoholic hepatitis (7, 8). Oxandrolone has been shown to be safe even in dosages of up to 80 mg/day in patients with alcoholic hepatitis (7).

The subject invention discloses the use of an oxandrolone for the treatment of cachexia, muscle wasting and involuntary weight loss associated with wounds, especially burns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1: Effect of oxandrolone and increased protein content on the recovery phase in burn patients (Example 1): measurements of energy level, therapy index and weight gain of burn patients in Groups 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 2: Body weight of patients (Example 1) with burn injury in Group 1.

FIG. 3: Body weight of patients (Example 1) with burn injury in Group 2.

FIG. 4: Body weight of patients (Example 1) with burn injury in Group 3.

FIG. 5: Energy level (0-10) of burn patients (Example 1) in Groups 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 6: Therapy index (0-10) of burn patients (Example 1) in Groups 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 7: Effect of oxandrolone and increased protein content on the recovery phase in burn patients (Example 2): measurements of weight gain in Groups 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 8: Body weight of patients (Example 2) with burn injury in Groups 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 9: Therapy index (0-10) of burn patients (Example 2) in Groups 1, 2 and 3.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention also provides a method of treating a wound in a patient suffering from a wound which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an oxandrolone to the patient.

The subject invention provides a method of treating burn-induced weight loss in a burn patient which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an oxandrolone to the patient.

The subject invention further provides a method of treating burn-induced weight loss in a burn patient which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an oxandrolone in conjunction with a protein supplement to the patient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Oxandrolone as used herein encompasses 17-methyl-17-hydroxy-2-oxa-5-androstan-3-one (both racemic mixtures and optically active enantiomers) as well as pharmaceutically acceptable esters thereof. For example, an oxandrolone product which is commercially available is the Oxandrin tablet from BTG Pharmaceuticals Corp., Iselin, N.J. 08830, which is 17α-methyl-17β-hydroxy-2-oxa-5α-androstan-3-one. This product was used throughout the studies described herein.

Protein supplement as used herein encompasses any nutritionally effective protein supplement including commercially available protein supplements.

Protein supplement Met-Rx™ contains 74 gram/liter protein, 48 gram/liter carbohydrate and 8 gram/liter fat.

A wound as used herein is a breach in the continuity of skin tissue. Examples of wounds are punctures, incisions, excisions, lacerations, abrasions, ulcers and burns. Examples of ulcers as used herein are ulceration of the heel in a diabetic patient and decubitus ulcers in bedridden patients.

A skin graft as used herein encompasses an autograft or an allograft.

Oxandrolone may be administered orally, intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, topically, intratracheally, intrathecally, intraperitoneally, rectally, vaginally or intrapleurally.

If oxandrolone is administered orally, it is administered in the form of a tablet, a pill, a liquid or a capsule.

A liquid may be administered in the form of a solution or a suspension.

The compositions produced in accordance with the invention may comprise conventional pharmaceutically acceptable diluents or carriers. Tablets, pills, liquids and capsules may include conventional excipients such as lactose, starch, cellulose derivatives, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and magnesium stearate. Suppositories may include excipients such as waxes and glycerol. Injectable solutions will comprise sterile pyrogen-free media such as saline and may include buffering agents, stabilizing agents, solubilizing agents or preservatives. Conventional enteric coatings may also be used.

Compositions for topical administration may be in the form of creams, ointments, lotions, solutions, transdermal delivery systems, transdermal patches or gels.

The subject invention provides a method of treating burn-induced weight loss in a burn patient which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an oxandrolone to the patient.

The subject invention further provides a method of treating burn-induced weight loss in a burn patient which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an oxandrolone in conjunction with a protein supplement to the patient.

The subject invention provides a use of an oxandrolone in the preparation of a composition to treat burn-induced weight loss in a burn patient. This composition may optionally comprise a protein supplement.

In a preferred embodiment, the amount of oxandrolone is about 1-100 mg per day.

In especially preferred embodiments, the amount of oxandrolone is about 20 mg per day or about 80 mg per day.

The oxandrolone may be administered in a solid dosage form, in a liquid dosage form, in a sustained-release formulation or in a once a day formulation. The liquid dosage form may inter alia be alcohol-based or formulated with a cyclodextrin such as hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin.

The invention further provides a method of treating a wound in a patient suffering from a wound which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an oxandrolone to, the patient.

The subject invention provides a method of improving the rate of healing of a wound in a patient suffering from a wound which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an oxandrolone to the patient.

The subject invention further provides a use of an oxandrolone in the preparation of a composition to treat a wound in a patient suffering from a wound.

The subject invention also provides a use of an oxandrolone in the preparation of a composition to improve the rate of healing of a wound.

The subject invention also describes the use of oxandrolone in the maintenance and restoration of lean body mass in burn and trauma patients.

The wound may be a burn wound, an ulcer especially a decubitus ulcer (pressure sore), a skin graft or any form of wound including a traumatic wound.

Oxandrolone may be administered in conjunction with glutamine or human growth hormone.

The subject invention further provides a composition for use in topical treatment of wounds comprising an oxandrolone and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Such topical composition may be used for the treatment of wounds including burns and ulcers especially decubitus ulcers (pressure sores).

EXAMPLES

The Examples which follow are set forth to aid in understanding the invention but are not intended to and should not be construed to, limit its scope in any way.

Example 1 The effect of Oxandrolone on Post-Burn Catabolism (I)

A study on the effect of oxandrolone on post-burn patients was performed as described below.

Patient Characteristics

Patients included in the study had a deep burn of 30-50% of body surface.

The patients included in this study had undergone:

-   a. catabolic phase until 80-90% of wound closure (4-10 weeks); -   b. loss of 15-25% body weight (mostly lean body mass) during     catabolic phase despite optimum nutrition;

The recovery of anabolic phase usually last 8-16 weeks with peak anabolism in the first 8 weeks.

The transition from “catabolic” to recovery “anabolic” was defined by:

-   a. No need for life support measures, being stable and out of the     Intensive Care Unit (ICU); -   b. No active infection (stress); -   c. Open wound (not counting donor sites) not exceeding 10% Total     Body Surface (TBS); -   d. Patient taking oral diet with supplements or tube feeding (off     parenteral feeding); -   e. patient can actively participate in a physical therapy program     with active ROM exercises accentuating the anabolic stimulus of     exercise.

All patients were located in the burn step-down unit or in an acute rehabilitation hospital where daily information is retrieved from the physiatrist, nutritionist, and therapist.

The patients were divided into three groups in a prospective randomized manner:

-   Group 1: Standard nutritional goals as defined by the nutrition     support service. -   Group 2: Same as Group 1 plus 2-3 Met-Rx™ (protein supplement) per     day (sufficient protein to increase daily protein intake to 2-2.2     g/kg/day) -   Group 3: Same as Group 2 plus oxandrolone 20 mg orally four times     daily.     Measurements

The following factors were checked:

-   a. Subjective energy level (per Braintree study) 0-10; -   b. Physical therapy index¹ (per Braintree study) 0-10:     -   0 completes 25% session with fatigue     -   2 completes 50% session with fatigue     -   4 completes 75% session with fatigue     -   6 completes 100% session with fatigue     -   8 completes 100% session with no fatigue     -   10 completes 100% session and more with no fatigue; -   c. Weekly weight gain; -   d. Daily nutritional profiles; -   e. Measurement of lean body mass by bioelective impedance.     assessment of muscle strength and endurance

The onset of the study was defined as the onset of the recovery phase (anabolic phase). Patients were studied for 3 weeks (from the onset of anabolism).

Results

The results are shown in FIGS. 1-6 and are described below:

-   1. The response to the catabolic phase was an 18% body weight loss     despite optimum nutrition. The predicted amount of muscle loss is     70% of total loss since 4 lbs muscle are lost for 1 lb of fat. -   2. The subjective energy level at the end of catabolism was 1-2 as     expected. -   3. Calorie and protein intake:     -   Group I     -   (10 patients): Despite high calorie, high protein diets and         supplements or tube feedings, the calorie intake was below 25         cal/kg and protein intake below 1.5 g/kg protein. Patients were         generally anorexic, felt full and did not like the supplements.         Energy level and therapy index remained low for three weeks.     -   Group II     -   (7 patients): All patients liked the Met-Rx™ and actually ate         better overall. Non-protein caloric intake improved slightly but         significantly while protein intake doubled. Subjective energy         level and quality of therapy were markedly increased and weight         gain was double that of Group I unaccountable by the modest         increase in calories alone.     -   Group III     -   (4 patients): Nutritional profile was comparable to Group II         with an apparent added stimulus to food intake. Weight gain was         four times that of Group I and energy level and therapy markedly         improved.

Thus, increased protein intake in the form of Met-Rx™ markedly improved the rate of functional return in the recovery period. Attempt at improving nutrition with other standard nutrients was unsuccessful. The combination of Met-Rx™ and oxandrolone results in a great weight gain considered to be 80% lean body weight gain by bioelective impedance measurements.

Example 2 The Effect of Oxandrolone on Post-Burn Catabolism (II)

Another study on the effect of oxandrolone on post-burn patients was carried out as follows.

Patient Characteristics

Patients included in the study had a deep burn of 30-50% of body surface, reached recovery phase in about 4-6 weeks post-burn and required hospitalization for at least 3 weeks during the recovery phase.

The onset of the study was defined as the onset of the recovery phase (anabolic phase). The study period included the first three weeks of the recovery phase. Although somewhat arbitrary, the beginning of the recovery period was determined for all patients using the following criteria:

-   a. No need for life support measures, with a stable cardiopulmonary     status; -   b. No active infection; -   c. Basal body temperature below 99.5° F.; -   d. Metabolic rate at rest (indirect calorimetry) being less than     130% of normal; -   e. open wound (not counting donor sites) not exceeding 10% TBS; -   f. Patient taking adequate oral diet with supplements or tube     feeding and off all parenteral feeding; -   g. active participation in a physical therapy program including     resistance exercises especially to large muscle groups.

The patients were divided into three groups in a prospective randomized manner:

-   Group 1: High protein high calorie ad lib oral diet and protein     supplement Met-RxT>. The supplement was given in a quantity equal to     approximately one liter so that total protein intake would     approximate 2 g/kg/day. -   Group 2: Same as Group I with the addition of oxandrolone 10 mg     orally twice a day. -   Group 3: ad lib oral diet and a protein hydrolysate supplement     (Ensure-HN or Sustacal). These supplements contain approximately     40-45 g/l protein, 140-150 g/l carbohydrate and 30-37 g/l fat. Daily     protein intake consumed equalled 1.3-1.5 g/kg or 75% above the RbA     value for healthy normals of 0.8 g/kg. This group was managed in the     ten months prior to the onset of this study.

All patients were located in the burn/trauma step-down unit and then transferred to an acute rehabilitation hospital usually within the first week of onset of the recovery period. A burn nurse coordinator followed all patients at the rehabilitation hospitals. All patients were monitored until discharge but only the first three week period was used for the study period.

Measurements

The following factors were checked:

-   a. Fatigue was measured objectively through increases in pulse of     over 75% of predicted maximum (based on age) and a respiratory rate     exceeding 30 breaths per minute beyond one minute after completion     of the activity. -   b. Muscle function was quantitated using a physical therapy index.     The physical therapy program was determined for each patient by the     burn therapist team based on optimum projected goals to be achieved     at the three week period. Standard isokinetic and resistance     exercises were used to increase strength. Ambulation, stair climbing     and the stationary bike were used to increase endurance. Since the     basic components of therapy programs were nearly identical between     patients, an index was developed which quantitated progress of     patient performance:     -   0 completes 25% session with fatigue     -   2 completes 50% session with fatigue     -   4 completes 75% session with fatigue     -   6 completes 100% session with fatigue     -   8 completes 100% session with no fatigue     -   10 completes 100% session and more with no fatigue; -   c. Body weight; -   d. Daily nutritional profiles; -   e. Liver function

Within each group, paired data was analyzed using Dunnett's T-test comparing individual time periods. Between groups, analysis was compared by use of a nonparametric method, the Wilcoxan Signed Rank Test. Standard regression analysis was also performed. A p<0.05 was considered significant.

Results

The results are shown in FIGS. 7-9 and are described below:

All patients survived and have since been discharged to home. Groups 1 and 2 were evenly matched as to age, size of injury, period in the catabolic phase and weight loss. Group 1 had six patients, four males and two females. Group 2 had seven patients, four males and three females. Three patients in each group had a significant inhalation injury requiring initial ventilatory support in excess of two weeks. Weight loss in these patients did not exceed that for the group as a whole. Weight loss averaged 10-12% of reported pre-burn weight in both Group 1 and 2. An unknown portion of the weight loss was likely due to loss of tissue from wound excision as all patients had at least four excisions and graftings, 50% of procedures being excisions to fascia. Once the transition to the recovery phase was defined, no patient developed a significant infection or other acute process which would re-initiate the stress response.

Nutritional Profile

Mean data±standard deviation is shown in FIG. 7. Caloric intake was almost identical between all groups. Compliance with the supplement (MET-Rx) was >90% as the product flavor and texture could be adjusted depending on patient preference. Protein intake was identical in both Groups 1 and 2 being 2.0-2.2 g/kg/day as designed, compared to retrospective Group 3 who were given a high calorie, protein diet with standard supplements with a protein content which equalled 1.3-1.4 g/kg.

Liver Function Tests

One patient in both groups had a transient increase in alkaline phosphatase which resolved spontaneously.

Weight Gain

There was 2.5 to 3 pound weight gain in Group 1 per week, consistently over the three week study period (FIG. 8). In Group 2 weight gain over the three week period was double that of Group 1, a statistically significant difference. Weight gain was significantly increased in both Groups 1 and 2 over the retrospective Group 3.

Physical Therapy Index

In Group 1, the therapy index, a measure of muscle strength and endurance, increased rapidly and most patients were able to compete the entire expected program by the three week period without fatigue (FIG. 9). In Group 2, performance exceeded expectations, especially by week three. Expectations were in large part based on the standard gains in severe burns of this size in the early recovery phase previously managed. Both Groups 1 and 2 showed a significant increase in function over Group 3 at weeks two and three with Group 2 being significantly higher than either of the other groups.

Discharge Time

Average time of discharge from the rehabilitation or recovery phase to home for Group 1 was 26±5 days and Group 2 was 22±4 days while in Group 3 length of stay was 35+7 days. The average patient length of stay in the burn center was 25 days indicating the rapid wound closure and transfer to the rehabilitation center.

SUMMARY

A doubling of weight gain was noted in Group 1 using the protein hydrolysate MET-Rx for the same calorie intake compared to retrospective Group 3 and a marked improvement in muscle function. The biologic value of the added protein is reported to be greater than 95% by the manufacturer (MET-Rx, US, Inc., Irvine Calif.). This value indicates the percent of nitrogen in the hydrolysate retained by the body. Most available supplements use casein as the major protein. Casein has a biologic value of 60-70%. The addition of approximately 74 more grams of protein a day would not explain this doubling of weight unless all the added protein was used for muscle synthesis, a response only expected with an added anabolic stimulus. However, recent data on protein hydrolysate would indicate that biologic properties of a protein hydrolysate exceed that of the contained nitrogen and that bioactive peptides produced by hydrolysis are absorbed intact and can increase anabolism and wound healing. Most of these peptides remain uncharacterized. If all the protein were converted to fat, this would result in only one half a pound of weight gain a week. Therefore, most of the 2.5 pound weight gain would need to be fat free or lean tissue. Correlation with increased strength also indicates the weight to be mostly muscle.

The addition of oxandrolone to the increased protein intake resulted in a marked increase in weight nearly four times that of retrospective Group 3 which at the time were ideally nutritionally managed. Rate of restoration of muscle function was also significantly increased in the oxandrolone group over protein alone. This rate of weight gain is likely muscle mass as opposed to fat since non-protein calorie intake was the same for both Groups 1 and 3. In addition, strength increased and discharge time decreased although the latter may not be a sensitive indication. Anabolic agents are known to markedly increase the efficiency of protein synthesis especially in muscle. Since one pound of muscle is 100 grams of protein and the rest is water, muscle weight gains can occur rapidly when the efficiency of anabolism is accentuated. Weight gain due to water retention is feasible, however water retention is not reported to occur with oxandrolone in doses below 80 mg.

In addition, 3 of 6 patients were followed for eight weeks after discontinuation of three weeks of oxandrolone and the weight remained. No hirsutism has been seen in the three women in the group and a transient small increase in alkaline phosphatase in one patient was the only chemical abnormality noted. This patient also had gallstones and the role of oxandrolone is questionable. Since the gain of muscle over and above normal body composition by body builders using anabolic agents diminishes with discontinuation of the drug the finding of maintenance of weight is important.

In summary, the rate of weight gain and muscle function can be significantly increased in the recovery phase after major burn using the anabolic steroid oxandrolone in combination with a high protein intake including a protein hydrolysate. This data indicates that manipulation of the recovery phase to shorten disability time is very feasible and that endogenous anabolic activity can be markedly increased.

Example 3 Oxandrolone Treatment of Patients Suffering from Pressure Sores

A paraplegic patient was suffering from pressure sores (decubitus ulcers) which had been unhealed for over one year. This patient was treated with oxandrolone (20 mg per day orally) and the sores began to heal. This preliminary result demonstrates that oxandrolone treatment promoted wound healing in decubitus ulcers of long duration. Further experiments using oxandrolone for treatment of pressure sores and other wounds are planned.

REFERENCES

-   1. Herndon et al., Treatment of Burns, Curr. Probl. Surg., 1987,     Volume 2, pp. 347-373. -   2. Wolfe R. R., Nutrition and metabolism in burns, In Chernow B. and     Shoemaker W. C., eds., Critical Care, State of the Art, Fullerton,     Calif., Society of Critical Care Medicine, 1986, Volume 7, pp.     19-61. -   3. Ziegler T., In New Horizons-Frontiers in Critical Care Nutrition,     SMMC Fullerton Calif., 1994, p. 244-256. -   4. Fox et al. (1962), J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 22: 921-924. -   5. Karim et al. (1973), Clin. Pharmacol. Therap. 14: 862-869. -   6. Masse et al. (1989), Biomedical and Environmental Mass     Spectrometry 18:429-438. -   7. Mendenhall et al. (1993), Hematology 17(4): 564-576. -   8. Bonkovsky et al. (1991), The American Journal of Gastroenterology     86(9): 1209-1218. 

1. A method of effecting weight gain after weight loss resulting from burn-induced trauma in a patient which comprises administering to the patient suffering from weight loss resulting from burn-induced trauma 10 mg of oxandrolone per day, up to 100 mg of oxandrolone per day, in conjunction with a protein supplement, for a period of three weeks, so as to effect weight gain in the patient, wherein the weight gained is maintained at eight weeks after discontinuation of the oxandrolone administration.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the amount of oxandrolone administered is about 80 mg per day.
 3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the amount of oxandrolone administered is about 20 mg per day.
 4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the amount of oxandrolone administered is about 10 mg per day.
 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the oxandrolone is administered orally.
 6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the oxandrolone is administered topically.
 7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the oxandrolone is administered by injection.
 8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the oxandrolone is in a solid dosage form.
 9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the oxandrolone is in a liquid dosage form.
 10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the oxandrolone is in a sustained-release formulation.
 11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the oxandrolone is 17α-methyl-17β-hydroxy-2-oxa-5α-androstan-3-one.
 12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the protein supplement is administered to the patient to achieve a daily protein intake by the patient of 2.0 g/kg/day.
 13. The method according to claim 1 wherein the weight gained comprises lean body mass.
 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the oxandrolone is administered orally or by injection.
 15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the weight gained per unit time in the patient is double the weight gained by a patient suffering weight loss resulting from burn-induced trauma receiving the protein supplement but not the oxandrolone. 